Credit

Caption

Computer illustration of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the cause of athlete's foot (tinea pedis) and scalp ringworm (tinea capitus). Both of these contagious skin infections are spread by the fungus's spores (red). T. mentagrophytes is one of many species of fungi that can grow in human skin, causing inflammation and itching. Athlete's foot and ringworm are treated with antifungal drugs. Seen here are macroconidia (multi-cellular bodies containing spores) and filamentous hyphae.